So I read a blog entry today on a men’s Christian website where a husband was complaining about his wife not being as clean and neat as he desired. And really this could be about many different aspects of our wives, whether it is regarding cleaning or parenting or working or anything really. But here is a response I posted regarding this subject. I thought it was post-worthy to share:

“It can definitely be frustrating for sure. I think though it always comes back to the Biblical view being above our carnal views. The husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church and laid down His life for her.

If we look at this relationship, we see Christ as the perfection of man, the perfect man really. He never sinned. Never made a mistake. Had it all together. He was God in flesh. Yet we see how He took all our sin, all our mistakes, all our faults and inadequacies, all our sickness and all our weakness, and yet, He still loved us so much that He gave His life on the cross, being crucified and spiritually separated from His Father to bear in Himself all that was wrong with humanity – a humanity that crucified Him though He did no wrong and came to save the very people who had Him out to death.

And now He sits at the right hand of God interceding for us (Hebrews 7:25). He is pleading our case to the Father, every time we mess up. He loves those who HATE Him and is still drawing them to Himself. He still loves us when time and again, we don’t seek God and fellowship with Him the way we should. He loves us unconditionally even when we forget Him for weeks on end, even though we said and promised we would start reading the Word and praying regularly. He still loves us the same and forgives us. He doesn’t withdraw and get mad and discontent with us because, His blood has covered all our sins: past, present, and future. His grace is sufficient in all our weaknesses. His love never stops abounding towards us. It always believes, always trusts always hopes in the best for us.

Now, since the Husband should love his wife just as Christ loves the church, relate all that to your wife. Think of your thoughts and actions toward her when she doesn’t do what you want but, relate it to how Christ treats us when we don’t do what He would want. What does that now look like in light of Jesus’ actions towards us?

Your wife is and will almost always be a direct result of your love, sacrifice, service, and prayer towards her. Love her unconditionally and pour into her all you would want her to be, for that’s the very thing God does for us.

Your wife is a blessing from the Lord, to be cherished, built up, and loved by you. Of course, this makes it all about you…all on you and not focusing on her, but this is what the Father has called every husband to do and be. Start modeling Christ’s behavior towards the church, with regards to your actions towards your wife Then your relationship with your wife will model Christ’s relationship with his own bride – the church, the body of Christ.

This is true love. God’s love in action on the Earth.

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the Word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” Ephesians 5:25-27

Blessings.